Water Stories: How a family carved out a coastal gem and carved their name into our history
It is a piece of local lore that might sound far-fetched, but the safe and serene Mettams Pool was created by a World War I veteran armed with explosives and a very big crowbar.
Returning from the war with significant leg injuries, Frank Mettam set out on the long road to rehabilitation through regular walking and swimming.
He came up with the idea of creating a coastal pool where people could enjoy the calmer waters and protection from sharks.
At the time, infrastructure was sparse in the Trigg and North Beach area, which was “mostly bush and wild horses”, according to his grandson, Todd.
Todd, now a senior public servant, admits the rules and regulations of the day were also relatively sparse.
He said that Frank started clearing Mettams Pool in the 1930s and 1940s, using explosives he obtained from the road crew building West Coast Highway.
Through his careful placement of the explosives, he blew the limestone away from the beach, creating a sheltered coastal pool surrounded by a reef structure suitable for snorkelling.
His project of passion continued into the 1960s, with Frank enlisting his children and grandchildren to help dislodge and move pieces of limestone.
Todd Mettam still has the crowbar his grandfather used to form the coastal gem affectionately known as Mettams Pool.
“I work for the State Government and our department looks after the coastal infrastructure for WA, so there’s a part of me that knows, ‘oh, we shouldn’t be blowing things up and changing our coastline’ – but there’s also a part of me that’s very proud of what my grandfather created all those years ago,” Todd said.
“When I was a kid, I did my swimming lessons down there. Many years ago, I worked for the Disability Services Commission and the pool was a place I’d take people with disabilities for picnics and a paddle because of the ease of accessibility as well as the safety of the protected waters.
“I think it’s a great spot for the community.”
The fascinating story of Mettams Pool is one of many being told at the City of Stirling’s Water Stories exhibition, running now at Mount Flora Regional Museum as part of the Australian Heritage Festival.
Water Stories explores how water has shaped landscapes, lifestyles and identities in the City, from the Nyoongar fish traps stretching back thousands of years to the modern history of market gardening and surfing culture.
Mount Flora Regional Museum itself is housed inside a converted water tank which was used as an observation post during World War II.
The exhibition is open from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Wednesdays.
